“Daddy, daddy, you must come quickly”, Adam Cartwright heard a voice saying behind him.
Or better said, calling. The eldest Cartwright boy turned around and saw his six year old son Mitch coming towards him. Adam received the boy and let him calm down first.
“Why must I come along? Has the school been burned down?”, asked Adam.
“No, something more funnier. Your brothers are behind bars. Clem has caught them”, Mitch replied with laughing eyes.
“That is indeed much funnier. We go and pay them a visit”, Adam said smiling.
Together they walked to the jail where deputy Clem Foster was just making coffee.
“Hello Clem, Mitch told me that you have locked up my brothers. What have they done this time again?”, asked Adam.
“They have been playing poker with a false deck of cards”, replied Clem.
“May I see them?”, asked Adam.
“The cards or your brothers?”, Clem asked quick-witted.
“First those little brothers of mine. Mitch, you stay here for a second”, Adam said for the security.
The young Cartwright nodded. Adam went to the cells where he found his brothers Hoss and Little Joe.
“Is it feeding time in the zoo?”, Adam asked teasing.
“Aw ..sucks Adam it’ weren’t our fault. You must really help us”, said Hoss.
“Clem tells a total different story”, said Adam.
“What has he told you?”, asked Little Joe.
“That you have been playing poker with false deck of cards. Mitch came to tell me that you were caught by Clem”, the eldest Cartwright boy replied.
“And the boy did that at his own usual way of course”, Hoss said indignant.
“He did that indeed”, Adam said smiling.
“Are you going to help us or what?”, asked Little Joe.
“I am still doubting. Now you are here we have more peace at the ranch. But I believe that pa won’t like it that you sit in the nick”, replied Adam.
“Very funny Adam”, Hoss said a bit indignant.
“With what sort of cards have you played?”, asked Adam.
“Clem has taken them”, said Little Joe.
“Then I will have a talk with him. The coffee will be ready by now. Don’t go away”, Adam said teasing.
He walked away laughing, leaving his brothers angry behind.
Meanwhile Clem had heard a whole lot interesting stuff from the youngest Cartwright. Mitch was not quite shy and once he had started with talking nothing or no one could stop him anymore.
“Mitch, do you know more about that deck of cards where your uncles played poker with?”, asked Clem.
“Yes, because I had made it together with Matthew. We were bored one afternoon and then we made it. We didn’t know that uncle Hoss and uncle Joe would take them to town”, replied Mitch.
Clem got the cards and looked at them.
“They are almost real”, the deputy said.
Adam came then in and also got to see the cards.
“My son is capable to con his uncles while normally it is the other way around”, Adam laughed.
Clem found it also laughable.
“Adam, take your son home. I will release Hoss and Joe in three hours time. Then you should be home I may assume”, the deputy said.
“Come son, we go home”, Adam said to his son.
Adam and Mitch went away while Clem went to Hoss and Little Joe.
“Clem, when are we going to be released?”, asked Hoss.
“How well do you know the deck of cards?”, Clem asked ignoring the question of Hoss.
“Very well. Do you think we are stupid?”, asked Little Joe.
“I doubt that. Because I have heard of your beloved nephew that you have been playing with his deck of cards. He had made that once with Matthew Walker”, said Clem.
Hoss and Little Joe looked at each other amazed.
“That’s why that kid wanted to come along so eagerly. He had seen us with that deck of cards. Where is he?”, Hoss asked excited.
“Gone home with his father. You knew that children are not allowed to come into the saloon and so Mitch too. But because he has made my day with your visit I know of nothing. You may go home in three hours time. It is now half past three so calculate that for yourself”, the deputy said.
Hoss said, “Then we miss supper!”
“He does that on purpose!”, groaned Little Joe.
Clem left them alone.
But at half past six Hoss and Little Joe got released indeed and they went straight home. Though they had learned their lesson and they would never assume something without a reason of their nephew.